North, Middle, & South Tripyramid via Livermore South (White Mountain National Forest)
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Distance: 11.16 miles
Elevation: 2,956 feet
Time: 4 hours, 57 minutes (4 hours, 32 minutes moving)
Hiking Challenges: New Hampshire 4000-Footers, 52 Hike Challenge 2025; Terrifying 25
The Hike
Final hike of my summer and Labor Day weekend! Emma was in full recovery mode and I had to make my way back to Boston, so I decided as a part of my "Farewell Tour" to hike the Tripyramids again, but this time via the slides! I had said I didn't want to tackle the slides by myself, but I was feeling pretty confident in my strength and... confidence. I was out the door at 3:20am from Emma's apartment in northern Vermont and started my journey down "south." I passed a fun amount of animals on my drive - three red foxes, a raccoon, a skunk, and possibly a fisher (it was dark and noodle-like). I stopped at the rest area just before crossing into New Hampshire to pee and someone... left a gift... NEXT to the toilet seat. Bummer! I continued on through Franconia Notch and then christened the Dunkin Donuts in Lincoln (of course I got breakfast there, too), and made it to the Livermore South Trailhead just before 6:00am. I initially panicked because I didn't realize it was a day-use fee area, but thankfully they had installed a solar credit card payment kiosk thing. There was one other car and two large privys. It was a chilly 45 degrees out with some yellowing birches (likely because of the draught, not fall), and it was soon time to start my adventure!
[6:09am - Livermore Trail]
Similar to Owl's Head, this hike would be a lot of flat hiking followed by a comical ascent up a slide. The Livermore Trail is a wide, open road with lots of signage for hiking and cross-country skiing/mountain biking. I was chilly!
[6:13am - Livermore Trail/Leaves Forest Protection Area]
[6:16am - Livermore Trail/Greely Ponds Trail jct.]
The trail left the Forest Protection Area of the parking lot and passed an open area with many criss-crossing trails for Waterville Valley - Livermore Trail was the main one. The trail crossed a bridge, passed the Greely Ponds Trail junction, and continued it's gentle meander through the woods - I was almost hoping for some elevation gain to warm myself up! I crossed another bridge over what I believe was the Mad River, and then passed a series of trails I didn't even know existed!
[6:20am - Livermore Trail/Boulder Path jct.]
[6:23am - Livermore Trail/Big Pines Path jct.]
[6:28am - Livermore Trail/Kettle's Path jct.]
First, I passed the Boulder Path, and then after a short ascent, the Big Pines Path. I put a mental pin into the Big Pines Path, which appeared to be a short trail that led to some big pines along the river - if I had energy after my hike I wanted to take a side trip. I enjoyed the reddening (is that a word?) of the giant hobblebush leaves as the Livermore Trail passed the Kettles Path, which was just about 1.0 mile into the hike. The squirrels were extra crazy this morning - basically assaulting me with acorns and other tree nuts.
[6:45am - Livermore Trail/Norway Rapids Trail jct.]
The road turned, gained some elevation past a clearing on the right, and passed the Norway Rapids Trail (possibly in this order, possibly in a different order, who's to say!). Somewhere in that sequence of events I also finally took off my fleece and had a quick potty break. There was another bridge crossing and I found myself feeling grateful for the wide road because there were no spider webs, but also lamenting the wide road because it was pretty boring. I did pass some nice tree-bound mossy boulders, at least!
[6:52am - Livermore Trail/XC Ski & Mtn. Bike Trails jct.]
I passed a junction with some XC Ski & Mountain Biking Trails. This is where I was starting to feel like I was making progress - only 1.4 miles to the north end of the Mt. Tripyramid Trail! The reputation aside, I was very glad to be getting the longer, boring stretch over with first. The trail followed a nice stream now, with some cascades and a waterhing hole on the left. The road was beginning to narrow (from basically two-lanes to a single lane with grass now), and there were incredibly restricted tree views - the kind that let's you know that there are, in fact, mountains around, but nothing more than that. The road continued to climb pretty easily until the south junction of the Mt. Tripyramid Trail.
[7:00am - Livermore Trail/Mt. Tripyramid Trail (south) jct.]
From the junction, the sign read 2.2 miles to the summit of North Tripyramid, which was crazy considering I'd barely gained any elevation. The whole loop back to this point would be a nice 5.9 miles. I could see the Sandwich Range Wilderness sign down the south trail, just past a water crossing, but I was continuing on Livermore Trail to the north junction for the fun to really begin!
The road felt less-traveled after this point (but still very much a well-traveled road) and I could just begin to make out the peaks through the trees. There was a little washout and then a meadowy clearing on the left - I'm guessing an old logging camp? The road began to climb more moderately, which truly was welcomed as it meant I would have to climb that much less on the slide (which was already going to be PLENTY of climbing). Soon enough, it was time!
[7:20am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail (north)]
I did a quick break at the north Mt. Tripyramid Trail junction. It looked like Livermore Road used to continue straight, but the Livermore Trail turned left for Scaur Ridge. The Mt. Tripyramid Trail turned right. I swapped out my Nalgenes, took a couple hits of pistachios, and I was off!
[7:25am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Sandwich Range Wilderness]
The Mt. Tripyramid Trail dipped slightly to cross a brook and then entered the Sandwich Range Wilderness. It was nice to be on a footpath trail now versus an old, gravel road - even if it meant I was now eating spiderwebs. The trail climbed at easy to moderate grades while paralleling the brook and swimming through patches of hobblebush with just one confusing section. I was feeling concerned that I still hadn't climbed much... I then passed a dry drainage that I thought could actually be the base of the slide, but just a little bit further down the trail is where I turned right and was CLEARLY at the base of the slide... here we go!
[7:40am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Base of Slide]
I was nervous but mostly excited to tackle this climb. It IMMEDIATELY became steep, but fun! I caught up to one strange person who just kind of looked at me, and that was it for people for a while! The more I climbed/scrambled, the more views behind began to appear, and they were truly wonderful. The "trail" was delightfully dry, and sometimes there was a gravelly trail to the left of the slide proper - not sure which is "official."
The views continued to increase, first towards Osceola, which was just beautiufl to see. My notes read: "this shit is crazy" - I had a few spots where I felt nervous, but I would just turn off the fight or flight and be intentional about my hand and foot placements.
Views over towards Mt. Tecumseh and Waterville Valley began to appear as my adrenaline was pumping. I was really having fun! I just wish there were ANY blazes or cairns, but I guess that's part of the beauty of being in a wilderness area. I could also now see Moosilauke behind Osceola. It was really cool to see the entire Osceola complex in it's entirety.
I passed a super faded blaze and then hit a woodsy stretch - I made the decision here to save my summit beverage until I was back on Livermore Trail becuase this was wild, and even though I knew the south slide would be easier, I didn't want to tempt fate. Once back on the slabs, the view was yet again even more incredible. The Kinsmans and Franconias were now added to the vista, along with part of Mt. Carrigain. It was also such a perfectly beautiful day, too. I was simply in awe. It was also fun to be hiking these mountains in a DRASTICALLY different fashion than the last time (when I did Pine Bend-Sabbaday).
Higher up again, I could now see the Presidential Range with crystal clear skies - just amazing! I did begin to have a bit less fun near the top, as the "trail" conditions pivoted from slabs to a loose, gravelley mess. Thankfully, it wasn't as steep (still very steep) and any slips were stopped by a solid rock. I wouldn't want to be below anybody, though.
[8:22am - Mt. Tripyramid Trial/Top of Slide]
The Mt. Tripyramid Trail continued to a cairn at the tree line - I did it! This was a really nice moment for me, as this was a trail I was scared to do for a long time. It was seriously fun and only a little terrifying - I would absolutely come back on a day as nice as this one! From here, the trail turned left into the woods and continued to steeply climb.
[8:28am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Pine Bend Brook jct.]
This stretch was more reminiscent of the Pine Bend Brook Trail's final push, which made complete sense. I FINALLY found the sun just before the junction with Pine Bend Brook Trail, and boy did the sun feel amazing. There were a few flies buzzing about, but they were leaving me alone. I hit the junction, turned right, and was soon at the top of North Tripyramid!
[8:32am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/North Tripyramid Summit]
I stopped at the top for a water break and to wring out my shirt, which was well inundated with sweat. The viewpoint was basically grown-in, but I could make out Mt. Passaconaway and other smaller peaks, kind of. I wasn't hungry for my breakfast sandwich yet, so I continued on.
The Mt. Tripyramid and Pine Bend Brook Trails were coinciding now and descended steeply. I was medium chilly now, but I was okay as long as I kept my pace up. The woods on this ridge were absolutely beautiful, even through a few well-maintained blowdown patches. There were now a criminal amount of flies, but thankfully they continued to leave me alone.
[8:42am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Sabbaday Brook Trail jct.]
I was soon at the junction with the Sabbaday Brook Trail, which also served as the terminus of the Pine Bend Brook Trail. I continued on the Mt. Tripyramid Trail up to the middle peak, which had my legs burning (in fairness, I was also moving quickly).
[8:52am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Middle Tripyramid Summit]
I made it to the top of Middle Tripyramid, was talking to myself, and naturally spooked a guy who was lounging in his hammock... whoops! I didn't stick around for long on the middle peak, partially because there was a person, partially because the views felt even more grown-in than the last time I was up here, and partially because I had summit fever for the south peak!
There was an initial scramble on the descent and then the trail mellowed out in more beautiful woods. The trail meandered along the ridge and contined to descent with tree views ahead to the south peak. The col between the middle and south peaks was a little grown-in, but the footbed was easy to follow. There was a wildly strong scent of urine as I left the col - a bear? moose? human? unsure - and then the climb went right from moderate to steep.
[9:06am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/South Tripyramid Summit]
I passed a really excellent "peek-a-view" back to Middle Tripyramid on the climb, followed by some more tree views to both North and Middle. The climb up to the south peak was the easiest of the three (naturally), and the summit was just a wooded ridge - super pretty though! The summit was either along the ridge or where the trail turns at the end of the ridge - there were little cairns in both places and a little peek-a-view to Mt. Whiteface and the Sleepers.
After turning right, the trail officially begins to descend. There was a little peek-a-view to Mt. Whiteface and the Sleepers. The initial descent wasn't too bad but it quickly became more steep and eroded. Soon, the trees open up to the top of the south slide and there's a great views of Sandwich Mountain and Jennings Peak ahead, and a bit further down I caught a glimpse on the right over to Waterville Valley ski area.
[9:18am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Kate Sleeper Trail jct.]
Behind were the Belknaps and Lake Winnipesauke, and I could also make out Welch-Dickey. Just a beautiful, unique view! The Kate Sleeper Trail turns left partway down the upper slide, and then the rest of the slide was... unpleasant. Super rocky and gravelley. I looked at rock the wrong way and it fell at least 50 feet! This upper stretch soon dips back into the woods, but the fun is not over yet! It slightly opens up again before diagonally crossing a confusing slab with smaller views, and then it opens up to another great view of Sandwich Mountain with brutal footing. The trail passed a decently large boulder that looked ready to roll at the next big rain, too.
The trail narrowed and then opened yet again, offering the best view of the Mt. Tecumseh complex. It looked like at some point someone may have tried to lay down rock steps, but it was pretty eroded away at this point. The trail eventually descended back into the woods, maintaining the steep pitch, but with more sufferable footing, which led to a walking break, which was actually the end of the slide! Horray!
It was a DREAM to be back hiking on stable dirt again! Even the rockier areas felt amazing - such a treat! I collected many spiderwebs in this stretch, but it was worth it to be moving quickly again. Eventually, the trail neared a brook and crossed a lovely stream with many cascades down below on the left. The last bit of trail did feel a bit never-ending, but again, it was so much nicer on the legs. The trail continued to cross a few streams/drainages and undulated about, my achilles were mad but my extensors were good, and eventually, I saw the sign!
[10:15am - Mt. Tripyramid Trail/Departs Sandwich Range Wilderness]
[10:16am - Livermore Trail]
I left the Sandwich Range Wilderness, crossed a brook, and continued onto the Livermore Trail, enjoying a sandwich and a Sun Cruiser - I was feeling good and accomplished! I began to pass many, many people once on the Livermore Trail. I was thrilled to be civilized hiking, as it was a nice way to pass time on this less-exciting bit of trail. I passed at least 20 people, one of which was loudly listening to conservative talk-radio, which was... interesting.
[10:26am - Livermore Trail/XC Ski & Mtn. Bike Trails jct.]
[10:33am - Livermore Trail/Norway Rapids Trail jct.]
[10:48am - Livermore Trail/Kettle's Path jct.]
[10:53am - Livermore Trail/Big Pines Path jct.]
[10:55am - Livermore Trail/Boulder Path jct.]
[10:58am - Livermore Trail/Greely Ponds Trail jct.]
I passed the long series of side paths over the course of a half hour. I opted to skip all the side paths as my legs were tired and I was starting to get the Sunday Scaries (even though it was a Monday). I was delighted at how un-busy it was for Labor Day, even if I was more or less swimming upstream. There was a 0.1% uphill grade at one point which felt like gravity doubled, but besides that, the reutrn was quick and easy. There were many birds flying around after the Greely Ponds Junction.
[11:01am - Livermore Trail/Departs Forest Protection Area]
[11:06am - End of Hike]
Soon enough, I was deparing the Forest Protection Area and back at the parking lot, which was only half full now! I had an expectedly painful drive home, but the weekend was more than worth it!
Step-by-Step
- Start hike on Livermore Trail from south parking lot.
- At jct., turn right onto Mt. Tripyramid Trail (northern end).
- Climb the North Slide, summit North, Middle, and South Tripyramids, and descend South Tripyramid.
- At terminus, turn left onto Livermore Trail.
- Return to car.
Photo Album
